WO1999053374A1

WO1999053374A1 - Instant printer, printing method using the same, combination printer/electronic still camera system

Info

Publication number: WO1999053374A1
Application number: PCT/JP1999/001918
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hiroshi Omura; Yasuhiro Nishitani; Ko Aosaki; Yoshio Sugano
Original assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 1998-04-15
Filing date: 1999-04-12
Publication date: 1999-10-21
Also published as: AU3168599A; EP1079267A4; US7116355B1; US20050179731A1; KR20010042582A; CN1614501A; CN1297540A; EP1079267A1; CN1248044C; KR100578513B1

Abstract

A latent image is formed in a predetermined exposure area of an instant film exposed through an exposure opening formed in a case of a film pack by applying printing light from a print head driven according to image data. While the print head is scanning a linear beam of printing light in a main scanning direction, it moves in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction. Considering the clearance between the case and the instant film, the area illuminated by the printing light is wider than the exposure area in both main scanning and sub-scanning direction, and therefore the whole exposure area is exposed to the printing light even if the instant film is displaced in the case. Integrally with a pack load chamber in which the film pack is loaded, a light-shielding housing covering an area including the area where the print head moves is provided.

Description

Details

Patent application title: Printing method using the same, and printer electronic still camera

The present invention relates to an instant printing method for performing printing based on electronic image data and a printing method using the same. Further, the present invention relates to a printer-integrated electronic still camera that stores image data of a subject captured by an image sensor in a memory and records the image data in a subject image-room based on the image data stored in the memory. Background art

A mobile phone that converts an optical subject image into an electrical image pickup signal using a CCD image sensor or the like, and saves the image data obtained by digital conversion into a memory as a still image one frame (one screen) at a time. Type electronic still cameras have become widespread. There is also known an electronic still camera that integrates a hard copy of a still image based on image data with an instant printing device such as a printer.

As an instant film used in the above-mentioned instant printer, a film generally called a mono-sheet type is widely used. The mono-sheet type instant film is roughly composed of an image-receiving photosensitive layer protective sheet, an image-receiving photosensitive layer, a transfer layer, and a transfer layer protective sheet laminated in this order from the photosensitive surface side, and contains a developing solution at the tip. It is equipped with a pod, and after the exposure, the pod splits while being discharged through a pair of developing rollers, and the developing solution is brought into contact with the photosensitive layer. It is developed between the transfer layer. As a result, the image formed on the image receiving photosensitive layer is transferred to the transfer layer, and a positive image appears after a few minutes. Mono-sheet type instant films include a transmission type, in which an image appears on the side opposite to the photosensitive surface, and a reflective type, in which an image appears on the photosensitive side. In addition, it can be used for printing other than the mono sheet type. The peel-apart type incinerator film is prepared by exposing a negative sheet (image-receiving photosensitive layer), then superimposing a positive sheet (transfer layer) on the negative sheet, and applying a developing solution between these sheets. Then, after transferring the image to the positive sheet, the positive sheet is peeled from the negative. The instant film is usually provided as a film pack in which a plurality of sheets are stored in a case, and the case is loaded into an instant camera or the like. By sending out the light shielding sheet from the case after loading, a predetermined exposure area on the photosensitive surface side is exposed from an exposure opening formed in the case.

The instant printing and printer-type electronic still cameras have a pack loading chamber for loading a film pack, an exposure unit for exposing the photosensitive surface of the instant film, and a developing solution while sending the exposed instant film to the outside. Film developing and discharging mechanism including a pair of developing rollers for developing the image, various operation units, a display unit for displaying an image to be printed, various circuit units, a housing for arranging and fixing these, and an outer cover. Consists of one.

Among the above mechanisms, the developing and discharging mechanism has basically the same configuration and function as those used in a conventional instant camera as described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. HEI 4-194832. Having. Further, as the exposure unit, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. Hei 6-83243 and Hei 8-27995 disclose a plurality of light-emitting devices that receive image-processed image data. A print head having a light-emitting element array in which light-emitting elements are arranged in a line is attached to an instant film. A color image is printed by irradiating red, green, and blue print light from a print head while relatively moving the print head. The instant film is made slightly smaller than the inside dimensions of the case so that clearance can be formed between the stunt film and the case so that the operation when the stunt film is sent and unloaded from the case is performed smoothly. For this reason, the instant film is displaced in the case due to various factors such as vibration applied to the case, so that the exposure area is not always arranged at a predetermined position in the exposure opening of the case.

If the instant film is misaligned, there is a risk that a portion of the exposed area will not be irradiated with the printing light, causing inconvenience. The unexposed portion of the exposed area is unsightly because it develops a black color when developed into a positive image. Such a problem also occurs when the instant film is used alone by loading it into a printer, due to misalignment in the film loading chamber.

Also, the photosensitive surface of the instant film loaded in the instant pudding or the pudding integrated electronic still camera must be completely shielded from external light. Light leaking from the joints or leaking from the illuminating means that illuminates the back of the liquid crystal panel was flooded with light that could reach the photosensitive surface of the instant film, making it difficult to completely block the light.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and when exposing an instant film with a print head, even if the instant film is misaligned in a case in which the instant film is stored or in a printer, the exposure area is It is an object of the present invention to provide an instant printing apparatus in which an unexposed portion is prevented from being generated and a printing method using the same. Still another object of the present invention is to provide an instant printing device in which light from the surroundings that may reach the photosensitive surface of the instant film is effectively blocked.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a printer-type electronic still camera capable of storing and reading out an image taken using an external memory.

Disclosure of the invention

The present invention includes an exposure unit that irradiates print light based on image data and a pair of developing rollers, and exposes an instant film containing a developing solution to the exposure area of a predetermined size by exposing the instant film to the print light. In an instant printing method for developing a positive image by recording a latent image and developing a developing solution on the exposed instant film by a developing roller, and a printing method using the same, an exposure means on the instant film is used. The exposure area of the printing light is wider than the exposure area so that the entire exposure area is exposed even when the instant film is shifted from the predetermined position with respect to the exposure means.

If the instant film is housed in a case with an exposure opening that exposes the exposure area, the size of the irradiation area for the exposure area depends on the clearance provided between the case and the instant film. Is decided. The instant printing of the present invention includes a print head that irradiates a linear print light extending in the main scanning direction, and a print head that moves the print head in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction with respect to the instant film. A scanning mechanism for relatively moving the exposure mechanism, wherein the irradiation range of the printing light in the main scanning direction by the print head is set to be longer than the length of the exposure area in the main scanning direction. The sub-scanning range is set longer than the length of the exposure area in the sub-scanning direction.

Further, the instant printing device of the present invention is provided with a light-shielding housing that covers at least the area where the print head is moved in a light-tight manner. The shading housing advantageously covers the periphery of the scanning mechanism as well as around the area in which the printhead is moved.

Further, the present invention provides imaging means for imaging an object, exposure means for exposing an instant film containing a developing solution based on image data of the object imaged by the imaging means, and an exposed instant film. In an electronic still camera equipped with a developing port for discharging the instant film out of the camera body while developing processing solution, means for connecting an external memory to the electronic still camera, and an image of a subject captured by the imaging means Means for compressing the image data and storing it in an external memory connected thereto, and means for reading and expanding the image data from the external memory, and based on the image data read from the external memory. The exposure means can be driven. As an external memory, a memory card that is removable from the camera body is advantageous. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the front side of a printer-type electronic still camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the back side of the electronic still camera of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the electronic still camera of FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing the opposite surface of the instant film shown in FIG. 4A,

Fig. 5 is an oblique view showing the instant pudding section of the electronic still camera in Fig. 1. It is a perspective view,

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a print head.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an electric configuration of the electronic still camera of FIG. 1,

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the irradiation area of the printing light and the exposure area on the instant film in the instant printing section of FIG. 5,

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of another printhead using a light emitting array unit that emits three colors of print light,

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of still another print head using a light emitting array unit that emits three colors of print light.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a print head that uses three color filters to obtain and expose three colors of print light,

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a print head that sequentially exposes three color planes by switching between three color filters.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of another print head that exposes three color planes sequentially by switching the three color filters.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing an electric configuration of a printer-type electronic still camera according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a basic processing flow of the electronic still camera in FIG.

FIG. 16A and FIG. 16B are explanatory diagrams showing display examples of the LCD panel of the electronic still camera in FIG.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a printer-type electronic still camera according to still another embodiment of the present invention from the front side,

FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing the electronic still camera of FIG. 17 from the back side, and FIG. 19 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the electronic still camera of FIG. FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing another embodiment of the instant printing unit. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the electronic still camera shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a photographing lens 3 and a strobe light emitting section 4 are provided on a front surface of a camera body 2. A shirt button 6 is provided on the upper surface of the grip portion 5. When the shirt button 6 is pressed, the image data of the subject imaged through the photographing lens 3 is captured as a one-frame still image. On the upper surface of the camera body 2, a slit-shaped outlet 7 is formed. When a printing operation is performed, the exposed instant film is discharged from the discharge port 7.

A slot 8 for mounting a memory card 9 as an external storage medium is formed on a side surface of the camera body 2 on the grip 5 side. By inserting the memory card 9 into the memory slot 8, data can be input and output between the electronic still camera and the memory card 9 in a short time.

As shown in FIG. 3, a knob 12 for opening and closing the pack loading lid 11 of the pack loading chamber 10 is provided on the rear side of the camera body 2. Normally, the pack loading lid 11 is locked closed by the knob 12.However, when loading or unloading the film pack into or from the pack loading chamber 10, the user can operate the knob 12. Be released. The count window 13 displays the number of used instant films.

The pack loading lid 11 incorporates an LCD (liquid crystal display) panel 14. The LCD panel 14 is an electronic viewfinder that displays a subject image captured through the photographing lens 3 in real time. An operation input unit 15 is provided below the LCD panel 14. . By operating the keys of the operation input section 15, it is possible to select the imaging and playback mode, In the playback mode, you can select images, instruct printing, delete images, etc.

FIG. 4A shows an instant film 20 and a film pack 24 used in the electronic still camera. FIG. 4B shows the surface on the opposite side of the instant film 20. This instant film 20 is of a well-known mono-sheet type, and exposes the exposure area 21 on the photosensitive surface side shown in FIG. 4A, and displays the image on the display surface side shown in FIG. 4B. The user views the color positive image developed from the area 22. The film pack 24 is obtained by stacking a plurality of the instant films 20 in a plastic case 23.

At both ends of the instant film 20 in the direction of being sent out from the case 23 on the photosensitive surface side, there are a developer pod 25 containing a developing solution, and an excess developer container 26 for storing an excess developing solution. Is provided. On the surface of the image receiving photosensitive layer protection sheet, there is provided a photosensitive side frame 27 that defines the position and size of the exposure area 21 on the instant film 20, and similarly, the surface of the transfer layer protection sheet. Is provided with a display surface side frame frame 28. The display area 22 is partitioned by the display surface side frame frame 28 so as to be slightly smaller than the exposure area 21 inside the exposure area 21.

In the case 23 of the film pack 24, an exposure opening 29 having a size larger than the exposure area 21 is formed on a surface of the instant film 20 opposite to the photosensitive surface. As shown in FIG. 3, a spring member 30 is provided on the inner surface of the case 23 opposite to the exposure opening 29, and the spring member 30 is provided by the spring member 30.

0 to the exposure aperture 2 9 side

We keep 20 flat. A notch 31 is provided at the end of the case 23 on the side of the excess developer storage section 26 of the stored instant film 20, and a delivery port 3 2 is provided on the side of the developer pod 25. Provided Have been.

In the instant camera, the exposure area 21 is exposed to the subject light at a time through the exposure aperture 29, but in this electronic still camera, the exposure of the instant film 20 is performed line-sequentially by the print light from the print head 40. I do. A pair of developing rollers 34 is disposed between the outlet 32 of the film pack 24 and the outlet 7 of the camera body 2. After the exposure, the claw member of the feeding claw mechanism 36 enters the case 23 from the notch 31, and sends the exposed instant film 20 from the delivery port 32 to the developing roller 34. As a result, the instant film 20 is sent out of the camera body 2 from the outlet 7 by the rotation of the developing roller 34.

At the front of the pack loading chamber 10, an exposure unit 38 as an exposure means for an instant pudding section is arranged. The exposure unit 38 comprises a print head 40 and a scanning mechanism 41 for moving the print head 40 in a sub-scanning direction (the vertical direction in FIG. 3) parallel to the film feeding direction. An image sensor, for example, a CCD image sensor 42 is disposed in front of the exposure unit 38 and behind the taking lens 3. The optical system including the photographing lens 3 is of a pan-focus type, and can capture a satisfactory subject image within the depth of focus without focusing. Of course, an autofocus device may be provided, and when the shirt button 6 is pressed, the photographing lens 3 may be extended according to the subject distance to perform focusing. In this case, a light-emitting window and a light-receiving window for measuring a subject distance by a triangulation method are provided on the front surface of the camera body.

Above the photographing lens 3 and the CCD image sensor 42, an imaging system circuit unit 43 constituting an image pickup mechanism together with the photographing lens 3 and the CCD image sensor 42 is incorporated. The printed circuit unit 4 and the memory slot 8 are arranged. Have been.

Fig. 5 shows the appearance of the instant pudding evening section. The print head 40 is elongated along the main scanning direction M orthogonal to the sub scanning direction S. On the surface of the print head 40 facing the film pack 24, a projection 40 formed with a light emitting slit 46 for irradiating the print light toward the photosensitive surface of the installation film 20. a is formed. As shown in FIG. 3, the print head 40 is arranged such that its convex portion 40a enters the exposure opening 29 of the case 23, and the light emitting slit 46 faces the instant film 20. ing. By disposing the print head 40 in the exposure aperture 29, the amount of protrusion of the print head 40 in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the instant film 20 is reduced, and the The space can be effectively used, and at the same time, the printing light can be applied to the instant film 20 without leakage.

The scanning mechanism 41 includes a lead screw 41 a extending in the sub-scanning direction S, a scanning motor 47 for rotating the lead screw 41 a, and a lead screw 41 by rotating the lead screw 41 a. A moving member 41b that moves in the axial direction of a (sub-scanning direction S) is incorporated. One end of a print head 40 is fixed to the moving member 41b. When the lead screw 41a rotates with the rotation of the scanning module 47, the print head 40 moves along the sub-scanning direction S together with the moving member 41b.

The scanning motor 47 can rotate in both the forward and reverse directions. When the scanning motor 47 rotates in the forward direction, the print head 40 moves to the developing roller 34 side, that is, the developer pod 25 side of the instant film 20. One sub-scan is completed when moving from the scanning start position toward the surplus developer storage section 26 and moving to the scanning end position indicated by the two-dot chain line. A guide pin 48 is provided at one end of the print head 40 opposite to the moving member 41, and the guide pin 48 is engaged with the guide groove 49 so that the print head 40 is provided. Is not tilted during movement You. During one sub-scan of the print head 40 by the scanning mechanism 41, a color image is exposed to the exposure area 21 of the installation film 20 one line at a time for three colors. When the exposure is completed, the scanning motor 47 reverses and the print head

40 is returned to the scanning start position indicated by the solid line.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the print head 40, a light emitting array unit 5 including a light emitting element array 51 for red, a light emitting element array 52 for green, and a light emitting element array 53 for blue is provided. 0 is arranged. The light-emitting element arrays 51 to 53 for each color are formed by arranging a large number of light-emitting elements 51 a to 53 a in the main scanning direction M, and the light-emitting element arrays 51 to 53 are mutually connected. They are arranged in the sub-scanning direction. When recording one line, each of the light emitting elements 51 a to 53 a has a light emitting time controlled according to image data of a corresponding color.

53a also emits white light. As the light emitting elements 51a to 53a, for example, LED is used, but other light emitting elements may be used as long as they emit light containing three color components of red, green, and blue.

The light path of the light from each light emitting element 51 a of the red light emitting element array 51 is bent by mirrors 55 and 56 a provided outside the light emitting array 50. A red transmission filter 57a is disposed on the bent optical path, and the red transmission light is transmitted through this filter to generate red print light. Similarly, the light from each light emitting element 52a of the green light emitting element array 52 is bent by the mirrors 55, 56b, and then passed through the green transmission filter 57b arranged on the light path. Green print light. The light from each light emitting element 53 of the blue light emitting element array 53 passes through the mirrors 55 and 56 c and is converted into blue print light by the blue transmission filter 57 c.

In the optical path of the printing light of each color, a red focusing lens 58 and a green focusing lens 5 are arranged so as to correspond to the light emitting elements 51a to 53a of the light emitting element arrays 51 to 53a. 8b and blue focusing lens 5 8c micro lens array 5 The red print light passes through the light emitting slit 46 through the micro lens array 58 and passes through the light emitting slit 46 to the photosensitive surface in the exposure area 21 of the instant film 20. Be focused. Similarly, the green print light is emitted to the instant film 20 by the green focusing lens 58b, and the blue print light is emitted to the instant film 20 by the blue focusing lens 58c.

The red focusing lens 58a and the blue focusing lens 58c have a prism function on the incident surface side, and their optical axes are focused on the photosensitive surface of the instant film 20 for green. The lens is tilted so as to intersect with the optical axis of the lens 58b. Therefore, one point on the instant film 20 is irradiated with three colors of print light using the three light emitting elements 51a to 53a arranged in the sub-scanning direction S as a light source. The photosensitive surface is exposed with three colors of print light extending in a line to M. Thus, one line composed of a number of three-color pixels arranged in the main scanning direction M is recorded on the instant film 20.

FIG. 7 shows the electrical configuration of the electronic still camera. The operation of the electronic still camera is controlled by the imaging controller 61 of the imaging circuit unit 43 and the printing controller 62 of the printing circuit unit 44. The imaging system controller 61 controls a series of operations required for imaging according to the sequence program written in the ROM 61a. The print controller 62 exchanges control signals and data with the imaging controller 61, and also performs processing from the exposure of the instant film 20 to the discharge thereof according to the sequence program in the ROM 61a. Control a series of operations. The RAM 61 b is used as a temporary memory for temporarily storing data required for control.

The imaging system controller 61 controls the CCD driver 64, the image data processing circuit 65, and the IZ0 control circuit 66 of the imaging system circuit unit 43. CCD Dora The driver 64 drives the CCD image sensor 42, and the charge storage time of the CCD image sensor 42 is automatically adjusted according to the subject brightness fed back from the imaging signal processing circuit 67.

The imaging signal from the CCD image sensor 42 is input to the imaging signal processing circuit 67. The imaging signal processing circuit 67 performs three-color separation after amplifying the imaging signal to an appropriate level using an auto gain controller or the like. An image signal for each color is digitally converted by an A / D converter 68 and then input to an image data processing circuit 65. The image data processing circuit 65 performs signal processing such as white balance adjustment, color correction, and matrix calculation, and creates red, green, and blue image data for one screen. The image data for one screen from the image data processing circuit 65 is sent to the LCD driver 69 one after another, so that the finder image is displayed on the LCD panel 14 as a moving image.

When the shirt button 6 is operated, the image data for one screen at that time is written and stored in the built-in memory 70 via the imaging controller 61 and the I / O control circuit 66. Is done. The built-in memory 70 can store a large number of, for example, 50 frames of still image data. The image data stored in this way can be written to a memory card 9 that can be inserted into and removed from a memory slot 8 via an I / O control circuit 66.

When a print instruction is given by the operation input unit 15, the imaging system controller 61 sends an image of each color for one image from the built-in memory 70 or the memory card 9 via the IZ〇 control circuit 66. Read the data and send it to the print controller 62. In addition, a print start instruction is sent from the imaging system controller 61 to the printing system controller 62. The built-in memory 70 is designed to hold the stored image data with a backup battery separate from the power supply of the electronic still camera. Even if the power switch of the electronic still camera is turned off, the built-in memory 70 Is not erased. The print controller 62 controls each part of the print circuit unit 44. The printing controller 62 writes the image data of each color for one line to the line memory 75 at the time of printing. The image data written in the line memory 75 is read out by the head driver 76. The head driver 76 generates a driving pulse for controlling the lighting time of the light emitting elements 51a to 53a of the light emitting element arrays 51 to 53 of each color from the image data of each color for one line. You. The head driver 76 generates a drive pulse in consideration of the spectral sensitivity of the instant film 20, the light emission characteristics of each light emitting element 51a to 53a, the transmission characteristics of each filter 57a to 57c, etc. I do. The drive pulses of three colors for one line are sent to the print head 40, and the corresponding light-emitting elements 51 a to 53 a of the print head 40 light up while the drive pulse is being input. Is done.

The print controller 62 rotates the scanning motor 47 in both forward and reverse directions via a driver 77. The rotation of the scanning motor 47 is transmitted to the scanning mechanism 41 as described above, and moves the print head 40 in the sub-scanning direction. The driver 78 drives the developing module 35 after the exposure by the print head 40 is completed. The rotation of the developing motor 35 is transmitted to the developing roller 34 and rotates. In addition, the rotation of the deployment motor 35 is also transmitted to the feed claw mechanism 36, and the claw member of the feed claw mechanism 36 is driven only once immediately after the rotation of the deployment motor 35 starts. .

FIG. 8 shows the relationship between the exposure area 21 of the instant film 20 and the irradiation range where the print light from the print head 40 is irradiated, and the relationship between the size of the case 23 and the size of the print film 20. FIG. 8 illustrates a state in which the instant film 20 is at the reference position where no displacement has occurred.

In order to transport the instant film 20 smoothly, a clearance is provided between the instant film 20 and the inner wall surface 23 a of the case 23 in the main scanning direction M and the sub-scanning direction S. This clearance is The length D1 is set at both ends in the main scanning direction of the tongue film 20, and the length D2 is set at both ends in the sub-scanning direction. The exposure area 21 defined by the photosensitive-side frame 27 has a length D3 in the main scanning direction M and a length D4 in the sub-scanning direction S. The print head 40 includes, in the main scanning direction M, more light-emitting elements 51 a to 53 a and focusing lenses 58 a to 58 c than necessary to expose only the exposure area 21. The length D5 of the printing light emitted from the light emitting slit 46 in the main scanning direction, that is, the length D5 of the irradiation range in the main scanning direction is the length D of the exposure area 21 in the main scanning direction. Has been longer than three.

When the print head 40 is at the scanning start position, the print head 40 starts irradiating the print light of the first line, but this print light is applied to the line pod 25 closer to the developer pod 25 than the exposure area 21. Irradiates at the start position Ps. When the print head 40 reaches the scan end position, the print head 40 irradiates the print light of the last line to finish exposing the image. However, this print light is more than the exposed area 21 in the developer storage section. It is irradiated to the line exposure end position Pe shifted to 26. In this way, the length D6 of the print light irradiation range in the sub-scanning direction is longer than the length D4 of the exposure region 21 in the sub-scanning direction.

More specifically, the irradiation range is extended by a length D7 from the end film 20 in the main scanning direction M of the exposure region 21 with respect to the instant film 20 set at the reference position. I have. The length D7 is greater than or equal to the clearance D1 in the main scanning direction between the instant film 20 and the inner wall surface 23a of the case 23. Thus, even if the instant film 20 is displaced from the reference position by a maximum length D1 in the main scanning direction M, for example, rightward in the drawing, the printing light is irradiated to both ends of the exposure area 21 in the main scanning direction. You.

In addition, the irradiation range is extended by a length D8 from the both ends of the exposure area 21 in the sub-scanning direction with respect to the instant film 20 set at the reference position. This length D 8 is the case with instant film 20 The clearance D 2 in the sub-scanning direction S between the inner wall 23 and the inner wall 23 a is not less than D 2. Thus, even if the instant film 20 is displaced from the reference position by a maximum length D2 in the sub-scanning direction S, for example, in the upward direction in the drawing, the printing light is irradiated to both ends of the exposure area 21 in the sub-scanning direction. Is done.

In this way, by making the irradiation range of the printing light by the print head 40 wider than the exposure area 21, even if the instant film 20 is displaced in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, the exposure area The print light is applied to the entire area of 21. It is needless to say that the exposure opening 29 of the case 23 is formed to have a larger irradiation range by the print head 40 in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction. Also, in this instant film 20, the size of the display area 22 is smaller than the exposure area 21 as shown by the two-dot chain line, so that the display area 22 is regarded as a substantial imaging area. The size of the irradiation range may be determined based on the display area 22.

Next, the operation of the electronic still camera having the above configuration will be described.

The new film pack 23 contains a light-shielding sheet that covers the exposure opening 29 in the case 23 so that the stored unexposed instant film 20 is not exposed to external light. 20 are stacked together. For this reason, when the film pack 24 is loaded in the pack loading chamber 10 and the pack loading lid 11 is closed, the developing module 35 is automatically driven, and the feed claw mechanism 3 6 and the developing roller 3 By 4, the light shielding sheet is discharged from the case 23 to the outside of the camera body 2 through the discharge port 7.

After the power is turned on by turning on the main switch provided in the operation input unit 15, the mode switching key of the operation input unit 15 is operated to select the imaging mode or the reproduction mode. When the imaging mode is selected, the image of the subject is continuously imaged by the CCD image sensor 42, as in a conventional electronic still camera, and the image is displayed as a moving image on the LCD panel 14. To panel 0 14 By observing the displayed image, performing framing, and operating the shirt button 6, the image data of the subject image displayed on the LCD panel 14 at that time is written into the built-in memory 70. When it is determined that the subject brightness is lower than the predetermined level based on the signal level from the photographing signal processing circuit 67, the flash light emitting unit 4 is automatically driven in synchronization with the operation of the shirt button 6, and the flash unit is driven. Light emission is performed.

In the playback mode, a key operation on the operation input unit 15 allows the image data of any image stored in the built-in memory 70 or the memory card 9 to be transferred to the IZ 0 control circuit 66 and the imaging system controller. 61, It can be sent to the LCD driver 69 via the image data processing circuit 65 and displayed on the LCD panel 14 as a still image. When printing an image displayed as a still image on the panel 14, the user operates the operation input unit 15 to instruct printing. Then, the imaging controller 61 issues a print instruction to the print controller 62, and then accesses the built-in memory 70 or the memory card 9 via the IZ0 control circuit 66, and the LCD panel 14 The image data of the three colors of the image displayed in is read out in order from the first line, and is sent to the print controller 62. The print controller 62 controls the print circuit unit 44 according to a print instruction from the imaging controller 61 to start printing. The print controller 62 transfers the image data of each color of the first line input from the imaging controller 61 to the line memory 75.

The head driver 76 generates driving pulses for three colors by using the three-color image data of the first line written in the line memory 75, thereby generating the light emitting element array 5 for each color of the print head 40. Each of the light emitting elements 51a to 53a of 1 to 53 is driven.

The light emitted from each of the light emitting elements 51a to 53a is converted into three colors of print light, and is emitted toward the instant film 20 through the light emitting slit 46. You. At this time, since the print head 40 is at the scanning start position, the three colors of printing light are irradiated to the portion of the instant film 20 located at the line exposure start position Ps within the exposure aperture 29. In the main scanning direction, the printing light is emitted so as to protrude from the exposure area 21 of the instant film 20 set at the reference position.

During the exposure of the first line, the image data of the three colors of the second line is written to the line memory 75. When the exposure of the first line is completed, the scanning motor 47 is rotated by a predetermined angle in the forward direction by the driver 77, and the print head 40 is moved by one line in the sub-scanning direction. After moving one line of the print head 40, the head driver 76 generates a drive pulse using the image data of the three colors of the second line of the line memory 75, and the print pulse is used by the drive pulse. 40 is driven. As a result, the instant film 20 is irradiated with the three colors of printing light of the second line.

Thereafter, while similarly moving the print head 40 in the sub-scanning direction, the print head 40 is driven by the drive pulse generated based on the image data of the three colors after the third line, and Irradiate the instant film 20 with the three colors of print light after the line. Then, when the exposure of the last line is completed at the print head 40 at the scanning end position, the exposure of one image is completed. The three colors of printing light of the last line are applied to the portion of the instant film 20 located at the exposure end position Pe in the exposure aperture 29.

In this way, in consideration of the clearance between the case 23 and the instant film 20, the extra area in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction is larger than the exposure area 21 of the film unit 20 set at the reference position. The substrate is irradiated with print light. As a result, even if the instant film 20 is displaced in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction in the case 23, the entire exposure area 21 overlaps the irradiation area, so that the entire exposure area 21 is covered. Exposure with print light. After the exposure of the last line, the scanning motor 47 is continuously rotated in the reverse direction, and the print head 40 is returned from the scanning end position to the scanning start position. When the print head 40 moves to a position where the movement of the claw member is not hindered while the print head 40 is moving, the developing motor 35 is driven, and the pair of developing rollers 34 starts rotating. I do. In addition, the rotation of the unfolding motor 35 is transmitted to the feed claw mechanism 36, and the feed claw mechanism 36 allows the claw member to enter the case 23 from the notch 3 1 and instantaneously exposed by this claw member. The film 20 is pushed from the outlet 32 toward the developing roller 34. As a result, the exposed instant film 20 is sent to the developing roller 34, and is discharged from the discharge port 7 of the camera body 2 by the rotation of the developing roller 34. At this time, the developer pod 25 is crushed and ruptured by the developing roller 34, and the developing solution is developed between the image receiving photosensitive layer and the transfer layer, and the image receiving photosensitive layer and the transfer layer are brought into close contact with each other. You. The surplus developing solution is stored in the surplus developing solution storage section 26.

After one to several minutes of the instant film 20 discharged from the discharge port 7, the image photographed as a latent image on the image receiving photosensitive layer is transferred and fixed to the transfer layer as a color positive image. Then, this color image is made visible in the display area 22 of the instant film 20. Even if the instant film 20 is misaligned at the time of exposure, since the entire area of the exposure area 21 is exposed as described above, a color image can be observed over the entire area of the display area 22 and unexposed. There is no problem that the part turns black.

In this embodiment, the imaging range of the CCD image sensor 42 corresponds to the irradiation range of the print head 40. That is, a drive pulse for driving the print head 40 is formed from the image data for one screen obtained from the CCD image sensor 42. Instead, one screen for forming a print head 40 drive pulse by applying image enlargement processing to one screen of image data obtained by imaging the range corresponding to the exposure area 21 Minute print image Data may be used.

The print head of the above embodiment uses a light-emitting element that emits white light to obtain three colors of print light, and has a configuration in which the same line is exposed simultaneously for three colors. Not limited to FIGS. 9 to 12 show different examples of the configuration of the print head. In the following description, substantially the same components as those in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The print head 40 shown in FIG. 9 has a light-emitting array unit 50 composed of light-emitting arrays 80 to 82 for each color in which a large number of light-emitting elements that emit red, green, and blue light are arranged. Three colors of print light are emitted directly from the array unit 50. Light from each of the light emitting arrays 80 to 82 is guided to the lens array 58 by mirrors 55 a to 55 c and 56 a to 56 c provided for each color. The print head 40 shown in FIG. 10 has the same configuration of the light emitting array unit 50 as that of the example of FIG. 9 except that the focusing lenses 58 a to 58 c of the lens array 58 are provided. Are made parallel to each other without tilting. Thus, the instant film 20 is exposed at the same time for three colors but with three lines for each color. In the example shown in FIG. 11, the light-emitting array unit 50 is composed of three rows of light-emitting arrays 51 to 53 emitting white light similarly to FIG. An example is shown in which three colors of print light are created with 57c and then three colors are simultaneously exposed with three lines for each color.

In any of the examples of FIGS. 9 to 11 described above, one full-color image can be exposed by one movement of the print head 40 in the sub-scanning direction. Also, since the three colors are simultaneously exposed, instead of moving the print head 40 in the sub-scanning direction S, it is necessary to discharge the instant film 20 to the outside of the camera body 2 via the developing roller 33. Sub-scanning may be performed by transporting the instant film 20. In the case of the print head 40 shown in Fig. 10 and Fig. 11 Since the print light irradiated simultaneously has a width of three lines in the sub-scanning direction, all the print light for three lines is exposed in the sub-scanning direction in consideration of the displacement due to clearance. A larger area is illuminated. The micro lens array 58 is composed of a number of micro lenses arranged to correspond to the light emitting elements of the light emitting array 50. Instead of the micro lenses, a refraction called a SELFOC lens (SELFOC lens: trade name) is used. A minute cylindrical lens made of a rate-dispersive optical fiber may be used.

The print head 40 shown in FIG. 12 uses a light-emitting element array 85 in which a large number of light-emitting elements that emit white light are arranged in a line, and red, green, and blue filters 57a to 57c. It was what was. In this example, the printing light is focused on the instant film 20 by the microlens array 86 between the mirrors 55 and 87. The microlens array 86 is composed of a self-occurring lens or another minute lens, and prevents print light for each pixel from spreading to other pixel positions. In this example, every time the print head 40 moves in the sub-scanning direction once, the filters 57a to 57c are sequentially switched as indicated by arrows, thereby exposing one color image in three color planes sequentially. I do. In this case, it is not necessary to return the print head 40 to the scan start position for each exposure of each color. For example, while the print head 40 is moved from the scan start position to the scan end position, the red The red pixel is recorded with the print light of the above, while the green pixel is recorded with the green print light while returning from the scan end position to the scan start position, and while the print head is moved from the scan start position to the scan end position. Blue pixels can be recorded with blue print light. In the case where the exposure is performed sequentially in three color planes as in the case of this example, the print head 40 is fixed at the last color to be exposed, and the sub-scanning is performed by transporting the instant film 20. It is also possible to carry out.

In each of the above embodiments, by controlling the lighting time of the light emitting element, The amount of exposure to the film is adjusted. For example, by continuously turning on the light emitting element, making the light from the light emitting element incident on the liquid crystal panel, and controlling the transmittance of the liquid crystal panel, the transmitted light, that is, The amount of print light may be adjusted. In such a case, it is possible to obtain three colors of print light by using a fluorescent tube or the like and a color filter instead of the light emitting element array as a light source. FIG. 13 shows an example of such a print head.

In FIG. 13, a fluorescent lamp 85 elongated in the longitudinal direction of the print head 40, that is, in the main scanning direction, is incorporated. The illumination light from the fluorescent lamp 85 includes red (R), green (G), and blue (B) colors, and if these colors are included, other types of light sources can be used. is there. In the illumination light path of the fluorescent lamps 85 and 58, a color filter 57 is provided. The color filter 57 is composed of a red transmission filter section, a green transmission filter section, and a blue transmission filter section extending in a strip shape in the longitudinal direction of the lamp 85 and arranged in the direction Y orthogonal to the lamp, that is, in the sub scanning direction S. When the color filter 57 moves in the direction Υ in response to the filter switching signal, one of the three color filters is positioned in the illumination light path of the fluorescent lamp 85. .

By passing through the color filter 57, the illumination light from the fluorescent lamp 85 becomes one of red, green, and blue print light. The print light passes through a liquid crystal array 89, a mirror 55, a microlens array 86, and a mirror 87, and is emitted to the instant film 20 from a light emitting slit 46. The liquid crystal array 89 is made by arranging minute liquid crystal segments in a line, and one liquid crystal segment corresponds to one pixel when printing is performed. The liquid crystal array 89 controls print density by blocking print light and controlling the amount of transmitted light for each liquid crystal segment.

FIG. 14 schematically shows the electrical configuration of an electronic still camera according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The same reference numerals are used for the same components as those in the above embodiment, and A detailed description is omitted. In this embodiment, it is assumed that a print head having the configuration shown in FIG. 13 is used. However, the configuration of the print head 40 is not limited to this, and can be changed as appropriate.

Behind the camera lens 3, a CCD image sensor 42 is arranged. Micro-color filters of R, G, and B are arranged in a matrix on the photocathode of the CCD image sensor 42, and the image signals output serially for each color are amplified to an appropriate level by the amplifier 90. After that, it is digitally converted by the AZD converter 68. The driving of the CCD driver 64 and the sampling timing of the A / D converter 68 are synchronized.

The A / D converter 68 converts the imaging signal into a digital signal to generate image data, and sequentially inputs the image data to the image data processing circuit 65. The image data processing circuit 65 performs signal processing such as white balance adjustment and gamma correction on the input image data, and also generates an NTSC video signal based on the processed image data. Is output to the video signal output terminal 93 via the DZA comparator 91 and the amplifier 92. Therefore, if a home television is connected to the output terminal 93, a continuous image picked up by the CCD image sensor 42 can be observed.

The video signal from the amplifier 92 is also input to the LCD driver 69. Since the LCD driver 69 drives the LCD panel 14 incorporated in the pack loading lid 11, the subject image is continuously displayed on the LCD panel 14, and the LCD panel 14 is used as an electronic viewfinder. You.

The system controller 95 manages the electric operation of the electronic still camera as a whole, including the image data processing circuit 65. The system controller 95 monitors signals from the operation input unit 15 and the external connection terminal group 98 via the IZO port 96, and performs signal processing according to the input signals.

Flash memory 100 is a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) Image data processing circuit 65 Stores image data obtained from 50 different images on a screen-by-screen basis. With.

The memory card 9 can be connected to the system controller 95 via the connector 9a and the 1-port 96. The memory card 9 has a storage capacity capable of compressing image data of a subject image obtained from the image data processing circuit 65 for each screen, for example, for 50 screens. It has a data compression unit for compressing image data of the subject image obtained by imaging and writing it to the memory card 9, and a data expansion unit for reading and expanding compressed image data stored in the memory card 9. A data compression / expansion circuit 101 is provided, and is controlled by a system controller 95. The memory card 9 is selectively used when the write capacity of the flash memory 100 is insufficient or when image data is to be stored, and is a medium for storing image data by operating the operation input unit 15. Can be specified. The memory card 9 also stores image data (hereinafter referred to as “decorative image data”) for combining various types of decorative frames with the subject image and changing the shape and pattern of a screen frame surrounding the subject image in advance. Has been written.

In the playback mode, the image data read from the memory card 9 and expanded by the data compression / expansion circuit 101 and the image data read from the Z or flash memory 100 are processed by the image processing circuit 6. 5 and the image is displayed on the LCD panel 14 based on the image data. If another storage medium is connected to the output terminals of the external connection terminal group 98, image data obtained by new imaging can be stored in the external storage medium, or image data read from the memory card 9 can be transferred. It is also possible to record the amount.

The head driver 76 drives the print head 40 according to a command from the system controller 95. The print head 40 has an additional line memory 75 The image data is transmitted from the LCD, and this image data is used to control the individual transmittance of the liquid crystal segments constituting the liquid crystal array 89. Various adjustment data referred to by the system controller 95 when the electronic still camera is operated according to a predetermined sequence is stored in the EEPROM 103 in advance. These adjustment data are adjusted one by one in the inspection process after the assembly of the electronic still camera is completed. Such adjustment data includes, for example, data relating to the focusing of the camera lens 3 and correction data for each color at the time of printing. The motor driver 102 controls the driving of the developing motor 25 and the scanning motor 47 under the control of the system controller 95.

Next, the operation of the electronic still camera shown in FIG. 14 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. The power switch is turned on by turning on the main switch provided in the operation input unit 15. The mode is confirmed, and the operation branches to one of the imaging mode playback modes depending on the set position of the mode switching key in the operation input unit 15. In the imaging mode, the CCD image sensor 42 continuously captures the subject image, as in the conventional electronic still camera, and the image is displayed as a moving image on the LCD panel 14 that functions as an electronic viewfinder. Is done.

When the shirt button 6 is released, the image data of the subject image displayed on the LCD panel 14 at that time is written to the flash memory 100 as a still image. One frame of image data can be sequentially stored in the flash memory 100 for each shutter release button 6 release. Further, the image data of an appropriate frame can be deleted and the image data of a new frame can be stored. Further, when the memory card 9 is connected to the connector 9a, the image data of an appropriate frame can be stored in the memory card 9. In this case, the memory card 9 is designated by the key operation of the operation input section 15. In the playback mode, if an arbitrary subject image stored in the flash memory 100 or the memory card 9 is selected by a key input from the operation input unit 15, the image data is processed by the image data processing circuit 65. , DZA converter 91 and amplifier 92 are supplied to LCD driver 69, and subject image 105 as shown in FIG. 16A is displayed on LCD panel 14 for example.

Thereafter, when the decoration frame combination is selected by a key input from the operation input unit 15, the decoration image data is read from the memory card 9, and the expansion processing is performed by the data expansion unit 101. Is performed, an arbitrary decorative frame is selected from among 50 types of decorative frames by a key input from the operation input unit 15. The decoration image data read from the memory card 9 and the image data of the selected subject image 105 are transferred to the image data processing circuit 65, for example, as shown in FIG. A composite image 107 obtained by combining the subject image 105 with the decorative frame 106 on 14 is displayed.

When the print key is operated after selecting the subject image and, if necessary, the decorative frame, the system controller 95 accesses the memory card 9 or the flash memory 100, and at that time the LCD panel The image data for the first line is read out sequentially from the image data relating to the image 105 displayed on 14 and transferred to the line memory 75.

When the decorative frame is selected, the decorative image data for one line is similarly transferred from the memory card 9 to the line memory 75, and the decorative image data is overlapped with the subject image data. Used preferentially. As a result, the image data for one line is written in the line memory 75. In this embodiment, since the print head 40 for exposing in a three-color plane sequential system is used, first, in this case, one line is read from red image data corresponding to a red pixel of an image to be printed.

Then, the system controller 95 transmits the red transmission filter of the color filter 57. The fluorescent lamp 85 is turned on after confirming that the filter section is inserted in the print optical path and that each liquid crystal segment of the liquid crystal array 89 is in a light-shielding state. Also, after confirming that the print head 40 is at the scanning start position, the red image data for one line stored in the line memory 75 is sequentially sent to the liquid crystal array 89, and the liquid crystal The transmission density of the segment is sequentially switched from the light shielding state to the transmission density according to the image data, and returns to the light shielding state again after a certain time.

The red print light transmitted through the red transmission filter of the color filter 57 is transmitted through each liquid crystal segment, so that the instant film 2 has a different amount of red print light according to the transmission density of each liquid crystal segment. 0 is exposed. The image data for one line stored in the line memory 75 can be simultaneously transferred to the liquid crystal segments of the liquid crystal array 89, and the transmission densities corresponding to the image data can be simultaneously determined. By switching to, printing time for one line can be shortened.

When the exposure with the red print light for one line is completed in this way, the scanning motor 47, which is a stepping motor, rotates by a fixed angle to move the print head 40 to the next line position. Subsequently, the image data corresponding to the density of the red pixels on the second line is transferred from the flash memory 100 or the memory card 9 to the line memory 75, and exposure with the red print light on the second line is performed in the same manner. Subsequently, while the print head 40 is stepped in the sub-scanning direction, exposure with red printing light is performed for each line, and when the last line is exposed with red printing light, printing of one frame of red pixels is performed. finish. Next, the system controller 95 sends a fill switch signal to the head driver 76, whereby the color filter 57 is sent in a fixed amount in the Y direction, and the green transmission filter section is positioned in the print optical path. The system controller 95 accesses the flash memory 100 or the memory card 9 and Among the image data relating to the image to be printed, the image data is read out line by line in order from the green image data corresponding to the green pixel in the last line and transferred to the line memory 75.

Thereafter, the exposure with the green print light is performed in a direction opposite to the sub-scanning direction with the red print light, that is, from the scan end position to the scan start position. After the exposure with the green print light is completed, the blue transparent filter portion is inserted into the print optical path, and the image data corresponding to blue is read from the flash memory 100 or the memory card 9 line by line from the first line. Then, exposure with blue print light is performed in the same manner as exposure with red print light.

When the exposure with each of the three colors of printing light is completed in this way, the developing mode 35 is driven by a signal from the system controller 95, the instant film 20 is pushed out by the feed claw, and the camera is moved by the pair of developing rollers. Excreted from the body. After a few minutes, the subject image is developed and fixed as a positive image, and a hard copy of the subject image displayed on the LCD panel 14 when the print key is operated can be obtained. When the decorative frame is selected, the subject image is printed inside the frame surrounded by the decorative frame. The subject image data and decoration image data read from the memory card 9 may be temporarily stored in the flash memory 100, and may be read from the flash memory 100 at the time of printing.

In addition to the decorative frame, a memory card in which these decorative images are written may be used so that characters, marks, characters, messages, and the like can be synthesized. It is also possible to provide a built-in memory in which the decoration image data is written in advance, use a memory card for writing and reading the subject image data, and read the decoration image data from the built-in memory for image synthesis.

In this embodiment, the print head 40 has the configuration shown in FIG. However, the configuration of the print head 40 is not limited to this, and can be changed as appropriate.

FIGS. 17 and 18 show the appearance of a printer-type electronic still camera according to another embodiment of the present invention. The same reference numerals are used for the same components as those in the above embodiment, and the detailed description is omitted. A photographing lens 3 and a strobe light emission window 4 are provided above the front of the camera body 2. A shirt button 6 is provided in the middle of the grip 5.

At the center of the front surface of the camera body 2, a pack loading lid 11 is pivotally mounted by a hinge 11a so as to be freely opened and closed. Opening and closing of the pack loading lid 11 is performed by operating a grip 12 provided at an upper end of the pack loading lid 11. In addition, a slit-shaped outlet 7 is formed on the upper surface of the camera body 2, and a door member 110 for shielding the outlet 7 from light is mounted on the slit 7 so as to be freely opened and closed. As shown in FIG. 19, the door member 110 is constantly urged in a closing direction by a spring 168. Further, a pair of light-shielding malt planes 169 are attached inside the discharge port 7. After the print operation, the door member 110 is pushed up by the leading end of the exposed instant film 20 that has passed through the discharge port 7 and opened as shown in FIG. The to-film 20 is discharged out of the camera body 2.

On the back of the camera body 2, in addition to the LCD panel 14, all the operation parts such as the multi-operation button 116, the mode switching key 117, and the prints 118 are built. Accordingly, all operations relating to printing can be performed in a stable state with the camera body 2 laid down. The multi-operation button 116 is used for operations such as digital zooming, operation in various shooting modes, playback, and frame selection when printing in combination with the mode switching key 117. You. Press the print button 1 1 8 to start printing the image displayed on the panel 14 It is.

As shown in FIG. 19, a pack loading chamber 10 into which a film pack 24 is loaded is provided behind the pack loading lid 11. The film pack 24 has a simplified structure by removing a leaf spring conventionally provided in the case 23. An exposure opening 29 is formed at the front of the case 23 of the film pack 24, and holes 23b, 23 at the back of the case 23 for receiving a pair of pressing members 122 provided on the back of the pack loading lid 111. c is formed. On the inner wall surface of the case 23, elastic light-shielding sheets 124 are attached so as to cover the holes 23b and 23c, respectively, and the light from the holes 23b and 23c is provided. To prevent intrusion. After inserting the film pack 2 4 into the pack loading chamber 10 and closing the pack loading lid 11, the pack holding spring 1 2 3 attached to the back of the pack loading lid 1 1 The film pack 24 is pressed to position the film pack 24 in the back of the pack loading chamber 10, and the pressing member 122 is inserted into the case 23 through the holes 23b and 23c, and the instant film 20 is moved. Press from behind to exposure opening 29 side. The film pack 24 is also sold in a moisture-proof light-shielding bag formed of a moisture-proof and light-shielding resin film or the like. The exposure opening 29 of the new film pack 24 and the uppermost instant film 2 A light shielding plate (not shown) having substantially the same size as that of the instant film 20 is provided between them.

When the film pack 24 is loaded in the pack loading chamber 10, the light shielding sheet 24 is pushed by the pressing member 122, and a slight gap is generated between the inner wall surface of the case 23 and the light shielding sheet 24. Since the back surface of the instant film 20 has a light-shielding property and the pack loading chamber 10 is light-tightly closed by the pack loading lid 11, even after the film pack 24 is loaded, the holes 23b, Light does not enter from 23 c.

Behind the pack loading chamber 10, the light shielding housing is integrated with the pack loading chamber 10. 1 27 is formed. The light-shielding housing 127 covers the entire periphery of the instant printer unit in a light-tight manner, and blocks any harmful light that may reach the photosensitive surface of the instant film 20. Such harmful light includes, for example, light leaking from a gap between the camera body 2 and an operation unit such as a print head, a backlight illuminating the back of the LCD panel 114, and the like. There is.

As shown in FIG. 20, the instant printer section includes a print head 40, a scanning mechanism 41 for moving the print head 40 along the photosensitive surface of the instant film 20, and a pair of developing rollers 34. You. The longitudinal direction of the print head 40 is orthogonal to the transport direction of the instant film 20, and its length is equal to or greater than the width of the instant film 20. At both ends of the print head 40, a main guide shaft 13a and a sub guide shaft 13b provided in parallel with the transport direction of the instant film 20 are passed. Thus, the print head 40 is movable in the sub-scanning direction S parallel to the transport direction of the instant film 20.

To the print head 40, the end of a belt 134 suspended from pulleys 13a and 13b is fixed. One of the pulleys 13 33 a is connected to a scanning motor 47 via a reduction gear group 135, and when the scanning motor 47 is driven, the print head 40 moves in the sub scanning direction S. Moved to As the print head 40, any of the above configurations may be used.

Select the print mode by operating the mode switch keys 1 1 7. When the print mode is selected, whether or not the film pack 24 is loaded in the pack loading chamber 10 in the predetermined area of the LCD panel 14 is determined. When the film is loaded, the number of unexposed instant films 20 remaining in the film pack 24 is displayed. If no film pack 24 is loaded, or if there is no instant film 20 remaining in film pack 24, To open the pack loading lid 11 and load a new film pack 24 into the pack loading chamber 10.

When the pack loading lid 1 1 is closed, the pressing member 1 2 2 enters the case 2 3 through the holes 2 3 b and 2 3 c, and the instant film 20 in the case 2 3 passes through the light shielding sheet 1 2 4. Press it against the inner wall of the exposure opening 29 of case 23. Next, when the print start key 1 18 is pressed, the light shielding plate is discharged to the outside from the discharge port 7 by the feed claw mechanism and the developing roller 34 (not shown). The 20 photosensitive surfaces are exposed from the exposure aperture 29, and the print preparation is completed.

Here, since the entire area around the instant pudding area is completely blocked by the light shielding housing 127, there is no concern that harmful light will reach the photosensitive surface of the instant film 20 exposed from the exposure aperture 29. Absent.

By selecting the desired image data in combination with the mode switching key 1 17 and the multi-operation button 1 16, the image data is displayed on the LCD panel 14. When the print start key 1 18 is operated after the subject image is selected, the exposure of the instant film 20 by the print head 40 is started. The exposed instant film 20 is sent to the discharge port 7 by the feed claw mechanism and the developing roller 34, and is discharged from the discharge port 7 while pushing up and opening the door member 110. After a few minutes, the subject image is developed and fixed as a positive image, and when the print start key 118 is operated, a hard copy of the subject image displayed on the LCD panel 14 can be obtained.

Also in this embodiment, the decoration data can be stored in a built-in memory or a memory card in advance, and the decoration data can be read therefrom and combined with the subject image data to be printed.

In the embodiment described above, the light shielding housing is connected to the Although provided so as to cover the body, the light-shielding housing may be provided so as to cover only an area where the print head is moved. In this case, a light shielding means is provided between the print head and the scanning mechanism so that the light tightness in the light shielding housing is maintained even when the print head moves. For example, in the case of the above-described embodiment of the scanning mechanism, a hole through which the belt passes is provided in the light-shielding housing, a telem is fixed to an edge of the hole, and a gap between the edge of the hole and the belt is shielded from light.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments. Like the printhead, the scanning mechanism can be of any configuration as long as the printhead can move along the photosensitive surface of the instant film. The appearance and configuration of the electronic still camera are not limited to the illustrated embodiment. Industrial applicability

The present invention is applicable not only to an electronic still camera having a built-in instant printer but also to a case where the instant printer is implemented as a single unit. When used as a stationary instant printing device, or when the device does not need to be particularly small, the main scanning is performed by using a laser device as the light source of the printing light or by reflecting the printing light with a polygon mirror. Exposure means having such a configuration can be employed. Further, it is also possible to use an exposure unit that moves the scanning position of the printing light in the sub-scanning direction by changing the angle of the mirror. Further, the printing method of the present invention is applicable to an instant printing apparatus or an electronic still camera integrated with a printer in which an image for one screen is displayed on a liquid crystal display or the like, and one exposure is performed by a printing light obtained from the image. Can also.

The present invention uses a mono-sheet type instant film for viewing an image from the display area opposite to the exposure area as described above. In addition to being used for electronic still cameras integrated with printers, it can also be used when using a mono-sheet type, which displays a raster image in the exposure area. In this case, when the inverted image is exposed to the exposure area, the color image is displayed as the inverted image as it is. Therefore, the erect image is exposed to the exposed area by performing image processing. The present invention can also be used for a peel-apart type instant film. Further, the present invention can be used even when an instant film not contained in a case is used.

Claims

1. Equipped with an exposure means for irradiating print light based on the image data and a pair of developing ports, and by exposing the instant film containing the developing solution with the print light, the latent image is exposed to an exposure area of a predetermined size. In an instant printing, an image is recorded and developed into a positive image by developing a developing solution on the exposed instant film by a developing port.

Contract

The exposure means includes: a print head that irradiates a linear print light extending in the main scanning direction; and a print head that irradiates the print head in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction. The irradiation range of the printing light in the main scanning direction by the print head is the above-mentioned exposure area.

The sub-scanning range of the scanning mechanism is set to be longer than the length of the exposure area in the sub-scanning direction.

2. The instant film is housed in a case in which an exposure opening exposing the exposure area is formed, and according to clearance provided between the case and the instant film, the instant film is exposed to the exposure area. 2. The instant printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the size of the irradiation range is determined.

3. The print head according to claim 2, wherein at least a part of the print head enters the exposure opening.

4. The exposure opening is larger than the exposure area, and the irradiation range of the print head is limited to the inside of the exposure opening when the case is loaded in the loading chamber. 4. The instant pudding according to claim 3, wherein the instant pudding is used.

5. The print head is moved from the scanning start position before the exposure region in the sub-scanning direction to a scanning end position beyond the exposure region, and from the scanning start position to the scanning end position, the image data for one screen is obtained. 2. The instant printer according to claim 1, wherein one sub-scan is completed by being driven line-sequentially based on the sub-scan.

6. The print head is configured to record, in one line in the main scanning direction, at least as many pixels as necessary to record pixels over the entire length of the exposure area in the main scanning direction, and Recorded by the print head

6. The driving data corresponding to one line of pixels is formed.

7. A means for connecting an external memory to the instant printer and a means for reading out the image data stored in the external memory are provided, and the exposure means is operated based on the image data read from the external memory. The instant printer according to claim 1, wherein the instant printer can be driven.

8. It further comprises an image pickup means for picking up an object, and by driving the exposure means based on image data obtained from the image pickup means, an image of the object picked up by the image pickup means is recorded on the instant film. 8. The instant pudding according to claim 7, wherein the pudding is performed. 9. A means for compressing an image of the subject captured by the imaging means and storing the compressed image data in an external memory, and decompressing the compressed image data read from the external memory. 9. The instant printing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: a driving unit that drives the exposure unit based on the expanded image data.

10. The apparatus further comprises means for combining image data read from an external memory with image data of a subject imaged by the imaging means, and the exposure means can be driven based on the synthesized image data. Claim 9

1 1. A latent image is recorded in an exposure area of a predetermined size on the instant film by irradiating print light from an exposure unit on the instant film containing the developing solution based on the image data, and forming the latent image on the exposed instant film. In a printing method in which a developing solution is developed by a pair of developing rollers to develop a positive image,

The irradiation area of the printing light by the exposure means on the instant film is made wider than the exposure area, and even when the instant film is displaced from a predetermined position with respect to the exposure means, the entire area of the exposure area is A printing method characterized by being exposed.

12. The instant film is housed in a case in which an exposure opening exposing the exposure region is formed, and the exposure film is exposed in accordance with a clearance provided between the case and the instant film. 21. The printing method according to claim 11, wherein the size of the irradiation range with respect to an area is determined.

1 3. Loading chamber for loading multiple instant films containing the developing solution A print head for irradiating the photosensitive surface of the loaded instant film with print light based on image data, a scanning mechanism for moving the print head along the photosensitive surface of the instant film, and exposure. Equipped with a pair of developing rollers for developing the developing solution onto the completed instant film.

At least a light-shielding cover that covers the periphery of the print head

It is characterized by having

14. The light shielding eight housing covers the periphery of the scanning mechanism in addition to the periphery of the range in which the print head is moved.

15. The instant printer according to claim 13, wherein the light shielding housing is formed integrally with the loading chamber.

16. An image pickup means for picking up an image of a subject to obtain image data, a loading chamber for loading a plurality of instant films containing a developing solution, and a photosensitive surface of the loaded instant film from the image pickup means. A print head that irradiates print light based on image data, a scanning mechanism that moves the print head along the photosensitive surface of the instant film, and a developing solution that is exposed to the exposed instant film. In an electronic still camera including a pair of unfolding rollers for unfolding,

An electronic still camera, comprising: a light-shielding housing that optically covers at least a periphery of a moving range of a print head.

17. Imaging means for imaging the subject, and image data of the subject imaged by the imaging means Exposure means for exposing the instant film containing the developing solution based on the evening, and a pair of developing rollers for discharging the instant film out of the camera body while spreading the developing solution on the exposed instant film. In an electronic still camera with

Means for connecting an external memory to the electronic still camera, means for compressing an image of the object taken by the imaging means and storing the compressed image data in the connected external memory, and reading image data from the external memory An electronic still camera, comprising: a decompression unit; and capable of driving the exposure unit based on image data read from external memory.

18. The apparatus further comprises: means for combining the image data read from the external memory with the image data of the subject imaged by the imaging means; and means for displaying a synthesized image based on the synthesized image data. 18. The electronic still camera according to claim 17, wherein the combined image can be printed by driving the exposure unit based on the combined image data.

19. The electronic still camera according to claim 18, wherein decorative image data to be combined with subject image data is written in the removable memory in advance.

20. The electronic still camera according to claim 19, wherein the external memory is a memory card that is removable from the camera body.